The federal government has told Arizona that it will not be able to continue cuts to its Medicaid program beyond the end of the year if it hopes to receive federal funding for a voter-approved expansion of the program.

The state House sent Gov. Jan Brewer a bill Wednesday that would require scrap metal dealers to register with the Arizona Department of Public Safety and would increase penalties for dealers who knowingly purchase stolen materials.

Lawmakers attempted to push through a set of bogged-down election bills in a comprehensive 43-page amendment in conference committee Wednesday afternoon, but the committee was called off minutes after the amendment began circulating at the Capitol.

Arizona Republican Party spokesman Tim Sifert today downplayed the party’s March fundraising, saying that the low numbers are just “part of the natural fundraising cycle.” He said the party made a big fundraising push in January, which also increased February revenues, before trailing off in March.

WASHINGTON – Skeptical senators Tuesday challenged Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on how her department plans to provide a “meaningful” border-security figure, which is the key to a route to citizenship for immigrants here illegally.